Yes, I’m in favor of white evangelicals being honest

This article originally appeared at Baptist News Global on October 24, 2025.

“Can I be honest?” This is the question being asked by one of the most popular songs on Christian radio today — Leanna Crawford’s “Honest.”

“Did I lose my faith? God, do I still trust you?” the lyrics ask. “Is it the heavy of the world, or is it just me?”

These are questions many of us who have deconstructed and left conservative white evangelicalism also have asked.

Crawford reflected in a Facebook post about the song: “God would rather have the real, honest, messy, broken hearted you than a fake smile, hurt on the inside but pretend to have it altogether you. It’s OK to be honest with Him.”

Every time I hear this song, I feel a deep sense of inner conflict. On one hand, it’s a really beautiful song. I love the sentiment of wanting to be honest with God. And it’s encouraging to hear Christians feel freedom to express their honest struggles so openly.

But on the other hand, when I look at the “heavy of the world” around me, so much of it is being caused by these very Christians who are driving around singing along to her song. And as I reflect on my own faith journey by asking if I still have faith or if I still trust God, I can’t get past one simple thought.

“For me to go back to embracing the conservative Christian theology I once celebrated as true and good would be to embrace dishonesty.”

For me to go back to embracing the conservative Christian theology I once celebrated as true and good would be to embrace dishonesty.

Continue reading at Baptist News Global.